What is intraventricular hemorrhage?

Intraventricular Hemorrhage

What is intraventricular hemorrhage in premature infants?

Some premature babies have bleeding in the brain the first week after birth. This bleeding is called intraventricular hemorrhage.

Your doctor may describe the amount of bleeding as grades 1 through 4. Grade 1 or 2 means the amount of bleeding in the brain is small. Less bleeding means there is a much lower chance of brain damage.

More bleeding (grades 3 and 4) raises the risk that fluid will build up in the brain. This is called hydrocephalus. The extra fluid can increase pressure in the baby's brain. This may cause brain damage. It can also cause mental and physical problems.

How is intraventricular hemorrhage in premature infants treated?

  • There is no treatment to stop this type of bleeding in the brain.
  • Instead, the focus of treatment will be to keep the blood pressure steady, give fluids, and help your baby breathe.
  • If hydrocephalus develops, your baby may have a lumbar puncture or have a procedure to drain the fluid. A flexible tube called a shunt may be placed in the brain to drain the fluid. Draining fluid helps control the pressure in the brain.
  • Your baby may have more tests to check for swelling and fluid buildup.

How can you care for your child's intraventricular hemorrhage?

  • If your doctor prescribed medicines for your baby, give them as directed. Call your doctor if you think your child is having a problem with his or her medicine.
  • If your baby gets home oxygen, follow instructions for how to use it.
  • Wash your hands before you hold your baby.
  • Do not smoke or expose your baby to smoke. Smoking increases the chance of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), ear infections, asthma, colds, and pneumonia. If you need help quitting, talk to your doctor about stop-smoking programs and medicines. These can increase your chances of quitting for good.

Intraventricular hemorrhage in children: When to call

Call 911 anytime you think your child may need emergency care. For example, call if:

  • Your child has a seizure.
  • Your child stops breathing, turns blue, or becomes unconscious. Start rescue breathing or follow instructions given by emergency services while you wait for help.
  • Your child has severe trouble breathing. Signs may include the chest sinking in, using belly muscles to breathe, or nostrils flaring while your child is struggling to breathe.

Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:

  • Your child has signs of fluid buildup in the brain. For example:
    • Your child's head gets bigger very quickly.
    • The soft spot on your child's head feels firm or bulges out.
    • Your child is irritable or sleeps too much.
    • Your child is vomiting a lot.
    • Your child eats very little.

Watch closely for changes in your child's health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:

  • Your child does not get better as expected.

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